EDUCATION

Give the folks at Sheridan Technical Center in Hollywood credit for creativity, and recognizing the changing needs in the work place.

The school is planning to offer, maybe as soon as March, the area's first course on repairing Las Vegas-style slot machines. Most of the institutions offering such courses are in Nevada and New Jersey, but with casinos now dotting the South Florida landscape, it seems like a natural.

It's also another opportunity for students who might not necessarily be considering college at the moment. Applicants don't have to have a high school diploma or GED, but must pass the center's "test of adult basic education." Gaming repair technicians earn $12.50 to $20 an hour. The program would cost $1,500 to $1,800.

The school says there are 11 applicants on a waiting list for the program. Once the course becomes a reality, you can be sure there will be more.